Several miles away, thunder rumbles, warning the town of another downpour. A red sedan parks outside a grocery store. A young child, Riley, hops out, her blue sneakers missing a puddle. A voice behind her says, “Hold on a minute, Riley. Don’t go inside without me.” “Okay, Mom.” She answers back. Once Janet catches up, ...

Calm settles around me. A sense of rightness fitting like connecting puzzle pieces that complete the picture.

“I didn’t mean to fall in love with you and ruin our friendship. So…I’ll stop.”

Forget the punching bag. His face will do just fine.

“Anna, you are not a disaster. You’re a delight.”

I am unapologetic, imperfect, and awkward Anna Waite. Someone who names her car and gets stuck on the back of fire trucks.

If this was a movie, now would be the moment Dylan makes a move, dropping everything to pull me into an embrace.

“So, you’re dating the paramedic?” Dylan’s lips stay flat, his eyebrow raised, and he stares straight ahead.

The fork pauses halfway to my mouth. An urge to laugh bubbles and I choke it back. “Women only want you for your body?”

We’re mirror images, him on one side, me on the other, tilting toward the hunk of wood that serves as our confessional.